Election 2008: Health Care

Listening to the presidential debates, one might gather that there is a consensus that America does not provide health care for its citizens. Every major candidate in both parties has some position on how to reform America's healthcare system and many Democrats are touting their universal health care plans. Figures are thrown around in debates about the 40 million or so Americans that currently are without healthcare insurance, and every so often one of the major news networks will run a story on someone who is suffering because they cannot afford to get the treatment they need. Liberals in America frequently put France, Italy, England and other nations with socialized medicine on a pedestal, hoping one day for America to join their ranks.

There is an immense amount of truth in the statements that America's healthcare system is broken. In fact among OECD nations, we are the worst. According to the new January and February 2008 Health Affairs report, the decline in preventable deaths in American men was only 4% when comparing data from 1997 to 1998 and from 2002 to 2003.  This put America last among the 19 nations studied, and well below the average decline of 16%. This means that although America spends the highest amount per person on healthcare in the world - approximately 16% of its GDP - the product we receive is awful.

The presidential candidates have a right to be concerned about health care, considering that if they get reelected, they will have to deal with a healthcare industry that rivals the manufacturing sector in size – about 20% of GDP. The solution is not throwing more money at the problem, though.  The last thing America needs is another embarrassing agency like Britain's NHS. As many have said, America must focus on regular care and treatments for all Americans to catch treatable dieses early, before they become costly life threatening illnesses. The most appropriate solution for the 40 million without care would probably be to create some independent company regulated by the government to provide healthcare for those Americans that cannot afford it. It is a lot easier, and cheaper, to keep a healthy person healthy than to keep a sick person alive. By simply ignoring regular care for the Americans that cannot afford it, America is condemning them to a quality of life that is more reminiscent of the third world.

To solve the issue Americans will have to change more than just who gets health care. The government must work will businesses to get health care costs down, and protect the entire industry from the lawsuit-happy culture of America. The American medical system has provided some of the world's most innovative advances and contains some of the best doctors, researchers and surgeons in the world. This culture has come under fire in recent years, stunting innovation and further discoveries, if America wants to continue to be among the world leaders we must repair our healthcare system, and ensure that it is both innovative and open to everyone.